nimrod

Interesting Kevin. I always kind of dismissed the notion that this song could be about any pair other than Paul and John. I will buy that Paul and Linda's experiences were the inspiration but I still think his waning relationship with John figured in. Maybe this has nothing to do with it but it seems like John's essential harmonies are in the song for a reason.

For some reason Beatle fans WANT it to be a nice cuddly song about Paul & John

But it isnt, John was writing songs about Yoko and Paul was writing songs about Linda, they were all sick of the Beatles (even Ringo)

John was very good at harmonising with Paul singing the main melody (If I Fell/Love Me Do etc) and I think he enjoyed doing it on this song, it was one of Johns strengths.

For some reason Beatle fans WANT it to be a nice cuddly song about Paul & John

But it isnt, John was writing songs about Yoko and Paul was writing songs about Linda, they were all sick of the Beatles (even Ringo)

But if fans want to see 'Two of Us' as a song about John & Paul, that's okay. Even if Paul McCartney walked up to me today and said, "you berk, that song is about me and Linda and that's it", I wouldn't care, I'd still see it as a song about the past relationship between Paul and John in addition. Very often people are going to take your songs different ways than you originally intended. I know that from personal experience.

But if fans want to see 'Two of Us' as a song about John & Paul, that's okay. Even if Paul McCartney walked up to me today and said, "you berk, that song is about me and Linda and that's it", I wouldn't care, I'd still see it as a song about the past relationship between Paul and John in addition. Very often people are going to take your songs different ways than you originally intended. I know that from personal experience.

Us fans who were teenagers at the time really had no idea they were about to break up! So why wouldn't it seem to be about J&P. If it is about Linda so be it but...

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Sometimes I wonder if the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or imbeciles who really mean it! Mark Twain

I first heard Two Of Us when I bought the Let It Be album on its release in May 1970. I saw the movie that summer. I knew the songs on the album were recorded before The Beatles split up. I bought the McCartney album a month before, in April.

I love that in the early electric version John and Paul share 3 or 4 sincere "fun" moments between them. Despite the ill feelings at that point, there was enough still under the covers to fall back into the good parts of the relationship "by accident".

I love that in the early electric version John and Paul share 3 or 4 sincere "fun" moments between them. Despite the ill feelings at that point, there was enough still under the covers to fall back into the good parts of the relationship "by accident".

Right. For a brief moment there they were a band, playing and goofing around like they did before they were fab. They were having fun!

I wish they had made a full and proper rocking version of this, even as an outtake. A lot of times I find myself preferring the original intent over the polished version, even though this IS a very good song in its own right. Hey we have multiple Revolution's, right?

I always thought the song was about 2 people, not anyone in particular. Coming from a songwriting point of view, sometimes you just think of events that might happen in someones life. Most likely, it's Paul and Linda but, perhaps reaching for or thinking of a line, McCartney might think of an event or an idea from his past, like the "You and I have memories" line.

So it might be a little of both.

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"Someone told me a few minutes ago they saw John walking on the street once wearing a button saying "I Love Paul." And this girl said she asked him, "Why are you wearing a button that says ' I Love Paul'? He said "Because I love Paul."

I always thought the song was about 2 people, not anyone in particular. Coming from a songwriting point of view, sometimes you just think of events that might happen in someones life. Most likely, it's Paul and Linda but, perhaps reaching for or thinking of a line, McCartney might think of an event or an idea from his past, like the "You and I have memories" line.

So it might be a little of both.

I'm convinced since quite a long time ago that your own interpretation of a lyric is the one that really matters to you, beyond the original intention of the songwriter. As John said about himself, the artist is just a medium.

nimrod

I'm convinced since quite a long time ago that your own interpretation of a lyric is the one that really matters to you, beyond the original intention of the songwriter. As John said about himself, the artist is just a medium.

Songwriters look for things to write songs about constantly...

John buys an poster with interesting words and writes 'Mr Kite'

Paul remembers going on Sunday drives with Linda to see if they can get lost, and writes a song about it

Paul remembers going on Sunday drives with Linda to see if they can get lost, and writes a song about it

but for the listener it can be about whatever you want.

Yes, I think so. I write songs too and something inspires me to start a lyric, but then the words come alone and complete it, perhaps with a different sense than the original intention. So I always think about the original inspiration when I think about my song, but I still know that it can be read in a different way.

One curious song for me is "Triad", written by David Crosby when he was with the Byrds. The song is really about polygamy, starting with the line "You want to know how it will be, me and her or you and me". But when I hear the version by Jefferson Airplane, sung by Grace Slick, she sings "You want to know how it will be, me and him or you and me"; it has a different meaning to me. I think about the "triad" formed by Woman-Man-Jesus in every Christian marriage.